Abstract

This article attempts to understand citizenship and childrenï¿½s human rights in the context of poverty and inequality in South African society. It reviews some of the policy texts pertinent to Early Childhood Development, particularly Education White Paper 5 on Early Childhood Education and White Paper 6 on Special Education. The article speaks to the discrepancy between the existing normative framework of society and its reality. It seeks to do this through a discussion of the ï¿½glossy rhetoricï¿½ of education policies and legislation informed by human rights, social justice and a democratic citizenship discourse and the actual realization of this promise.